Looks like we're getting a dog

[Duncan]

So, we're in the process of adopting this girl:



She's got an interesting story. She was in a high-kill shelter about an hour away from being put down, when a rescue shelter in central Ohio came and got her. For some reason, she was spayed earlier this month (at the first shelter?), but didn't receive followup care for obvious reasons. The stitches were done using permanent thread. They're still in and infected, so the dog needs to have them out and get some antibiotics. Hope that solves the problem.

We saw her at a meet & greet today, and decided she'd be a good fit. She's part Belgian Malinois (Shepherd family), mixed with something smaller. She was very logey & laid back at today's event. It'll be interesting to see how that changes when the infection is gone, but she seems like a very good-natured dog. My kids are psyched. We should know in a few days if we're approved.

Anyway, assuming I have a dog in the near future, can anyone recommend some good websites for dog food, etc? I did a little research on dog food, and would prefer to go with decent quality food with more meat & less filler. Amazon seems like a default site, especially where I can snag free shipping. Any advice?

Thanks!

[wayne foundation 07]

Internet high 5 to you bro.To many people support a puppy mill and pay big bucks for a puppy when gorgous girls like her are waiting for a great home.Purina .com has lots of info.Congrats if you are able to get her.

[thunderbolt]

Purina One actually has a product called Naturals that is really doing well with our younger dogs. Its at Target and Publix so far as I have seen. Good job adopting a dog. We've gotten 5 dogs over the years from shelters and they are the best.

[Duncan]

We've gotten 5 dogs over the years from shelters and they are the best.

Well, I have to say that the event we went to today at PetSmart was pretty solid. They had 20 dogs there on leashes with their foster owners. All of the dogs were pretty well behaved, and it was helpful to be able to talk to people who have had the dogs in their homes for a while. I'm pretty comfortable that the dog we're trying for will be a good fit; not sure I'd get that same level of comfort from a business.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

We have a Cocker who is 15½ and he has always enjoyed lamb and rice flavors better than beef. Right now we are using Purina. Usually the dog will let you know what they like or dislike.

[Mikey]

If you never owned a dog before, this is the golden rule above all others --- NEVER GIVE A DOG CHICKEN BONES

[samurainoir]

Congrats. When the wife first brought home our dog last year, I have to admit that I was taken aback. I'd never have thought I'd be a dog person, but now I can't imagine life without my best furry buddy.

Most days I'm pretty much a soccer mom to our dog. We do agility a couple of times a week and have just taken up flyball.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

She is beautiful. Congratulations!

[wilbs518]

Congrats!

[Bizarro Amy]

Congrats on supporting shelter dogs! She looks like a sweetheart. All of my pets are rescues of one kind or another. My mom is involved with dog rescue, and fosters them when she can, in addition to her own pets that were found in shelters.

[Donkey Hoatie]

Congrats on making a move like this. I'm so glad to see when people head off to a shelter to find a dog. We got ours at the Kenosha County Humane Society over 12 years ago, and the Brown Beast is still going strong. We've had to take her into the vet twice in these past 12 years for non-checkup related issues.

Then, there's my sister-in-law who just HAD to have a Golden Retriever, shelled out tons of cash to a breeder and has to take the dog to the vet a couple times a year for non-checkup related issues. Also have some friends who just had to have some designer combo breed because their neighbors have one. $1200 later, they have it. No thanks, I'm happier than anything with the $50 Border Collie/Labrador/Eight different other things fuzzball that we ended up with. Love having a mutt that's a mix of unexpected breeds with a personality that's off the charts awesome.

Go shelter dogs!

[david_b]

My wife and I (well, more she..) support the German Shorthair society (local) here.. We have Two young girls (Bella and Daisy).

Can't imagine life without 'em..

Dogs will steal your heart..!!!!!!

It's not so much you adopting them, it's more 'them adopting YOU'..

[jessica]

Congratulations! I'm so glad you were able to adopt her. She looks so cute.

[alex]

A big pat on the back from me, adopting, Ill only ever get a dog from a shelter, and the ones in Poland are horrific. One thing I discovered not that long ago, is no way give dogs choclate, as it apparently turns into a toxin, and can have serious damage on thier liver.

[Duncan]

...and, they won't let us have the dog. Apparently, the foster owner took her off of the leash to see what she'd do, and she bolted. So, now they'll adopt her only to families with a fenced-in yard, which we don't, and won't, have. We have a decent sized piece of property, but no fence. Back to the drawing board.

[Venting starts here. Please skip if you're not in the mood.] Now, the first shelter we went to on Friday had some cool dogs. However, the customer service was lacking, and the two dogs we asked to see were already taken.

The next shelter had the opposite problem - the dogs were so well treated by the large volunteer staff, that they pretty much ignored me & the family. Even the one we took for a walk blew us off.

The third shelter was an hour away. Too bad they didn't mention on the Website that they were closed for the Easter weekend - something we learned by reading the sign on the door.

Which brings us to the current situation, where we found a dog we like, but we can't have her. [End of venting]

We'll keep trying the shelter route for a while. There are too many good dogs out there in need of a home. I just wish the humans were easier to work with.